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41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
WDW in your pocket for the adult visitor, April 25, 2000
This review is from: The Unoffical Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups (Unofficial Guides) (Paperback)
This compact format of the "Unofficial Guide" is handy to carry compared to its larger counterpart "Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2000; Bob Sehlinger" but the information is basically the same. Tips to help with the Kids for are cut, as are some of the more lengthy reviews of hotels/attractions/restaurants. This book aims and hits the mark with helpful hints for the Grown-up (are we ever grown-up?) visitor. However, to keep the book more compact there is a great deal of rich material left out that is useful for the first time visitor. The information is provided in a well-organized format that most will find useful. Common questions are answered, and the book provides resource lists, Web sites, and e-mail addresses. Timesavers are included regarding attractions that are more along the adult taste, but who is to say that the author knows everyone's taste. One of the "Don't Bother" items for the Magic Kingdom is Mickey's ToonTown. For the more whimsical adult this can be a fun place and a hot spot to meet characters unclose and personal. After all what would a trip to WDW be without that old standard photo of you and "the Mouse" himself. Where this book shines is pointing you towards the more "adult" attractions and events. With so much to do and experience at WDW a good guide is extremely helpful. Using the planning tips in this and other guides hundreds of dollars can be saved. The How to Cut Costs section offers many ways to save money both in the planning stages as well as during the visit. While money may be no object to some, most people would rather with a little knowledge save some cash to happily spend it on all the souvenirs we must bring back to those not heading for the "World". Overall as a handy guide easy to carry I would recommend this book for the "adult" traveler. Another handy to carry guide is "PassPorter Walt Disney World: The unique travel guide, planner, organizer, journal, and keepsake!" For serious planning a meatier guidebook is needed. I have found that the "Unofficial" guides offer the off the cuff, straight shooting opinions and have relied on them for years. If this is your first trip to WDW then buy the more comprehensive guide and if you want a handy to carry reference then The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups is a great choice. If you are a repeat visitor you should be able to skip the larger version and go straight for the Grown-Ups guide. As WDW evolves so do the attractions but the goal is the same, HAVE FUN!
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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not worth it., March 14, 2005
A better title for this book would be "The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for the Wealthy and Jaded Retiree".
I'm a very big fan of the Unofficial Guide to Disney World and I thought this "add-on" guide would be a good investment but I am rather disappointed. The author seems to think that all "grown-ups" have an unlimited budget for their trip and actually says "It will cost you $300 or more (more than $500 for the deluxe savannah view) but that's not out of line." in reference to the Lodge at Animal Kingdom. I just about fell out of my chair!
Since this add-on Guide doesn't feature a reference year on the cover as its big brother does I didn't realize I was buying a guide book over 2 years out of date (published in 2003 and the original Unofficial Guide admits that they're out of date when they go to press) apparently there is a new edition coming out though.
Everything this guide recommends seems to have more to do with spending lots of money and avoiding children at all costs than enjoying the parks. Its recommended visiting times seem highly out of sync with the original Guide's attendance calendars And the author seems to feel that no adult could possibly enjoy some of the sillier and kitschier attraction and souvenirs.
It also has very little for the younger "grown-up" most of its reviews and comments seem aimed at the retiree.
This is a very jaded look at Disney through the eyes of someone who obviously had more money than your average Disney vacationer. I got much more useful information out of the original Unofficial Guide.
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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very Generic and At Times Snide, April 4, 2006
Out of all the Disney books I have, this is the smallest and shortest. It's a paperback size with only 167 actual pages. Of course, that's because it has a very narrow focus. The book really expects that you already have access to one or more "full" books about Disney and are now hoping to get specific information on grown up activities. I therefore was expecting this book NOT to redundantly cover all the basics - but to focus on the specifics for adults.
The book begins by advising adults to go in late April / early May. The weather's warm enough to swim, it's relatively quiet, and the gardens are in full bloom. Dress casually unless you must have a formal dinner, and pack light. Bring ear plugs just in case, and an easy to carry water bottle. Comfortable shoes are a must! All of these things are exactly what every other book says. Every book tries to get you go to when it's less crowded and to be sensible while you're there.
The book gives a lot of generic information on ticket prices, airline ideas, hotels. They do get into romantic hotels and restaurants, perhaps assuming that adults coming here are coming as couples. They talk about things to do at each theme park. However, most of what I read was generic. There were very few items that were aimed only at adults. In fact, the ones that were did so from the viewpoint of "xxx is far too childish for you to enjoy"
Now here's where this book really annoys me. The tone of much of the book is VERY snide. They make snide comments about noisy kids, about inane rides, about just about every aspect of going to Disney. One or two things I could let slide. We all have pet peeves. However, it's like they are going out of their way to say "We aren't with Disney, and we think they suck, they can't do anything about it, nyah nyah nyah." It gets REALLY redundant really quickly. The whole reason I got this book is because I *want* to go to Disney. I don't feel like reading nasty commentary about it the entire time. You know what, if they think Small Word is "brain damaging", they can just choose to go elsewhere. They don't have to dediate two paragraphs to bashing it.
Once they finish with the park reviews, they give a lot of time to the nighttime island and to shopping. Apparently adults like to drink and shop, but not do "Disney" things. Finally, the book discusses wine lists a bit, and hidden mickeys a fair amount.
I felt rather disappointed when I finished with this book. Most of it was generic and redundant to other Disney books. Very little of it was adult-specific - and when it was, it was apparently aiming to very "super-mature" adults who were incredibly wealthy. Many of the things they said to avoid, I would enjoy greatly. I realize it's hard to write something that aims to ALL adults. However, they didn't even seem to try. Either they were driving me away with their snideness, excluding me with their incredibly high price tag recommendations, or talking down to me.
Rent this at a library first to see if you find anything useful in it. For actual "cheap Disney" suggestions or reviews of hotels / restaurants / attractions you'll enjoy, it's far more useful to get an actual full book on Disney and go through it with your own interests in mind.
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